Sounds like this is someone with significant ties to the IDF. Although since they force everyone except religious extremists to serve, maybe that doesn't mean much.
Unfortunately there are no truly benevolent democracies, but the US is democratic. It has many flaws including, those you rightly point out, and it has also done a lot to support the spread of democracy.
There's more at stake than just democracy vs authoritarianism, but that still seems like the most accurate way of framing it. Look at the countries aligned with each side, there's a distinct pattern.
Russia didn't just cause NATO membership for Ukraine, they're the reason NATO was formed in the first place.
People should learn about WWII and the roots of these problems. Spend some time with the atrocities coming out of the USSR as they butchered and raped their way through peaceful countries in Europe.
Calling out irrational religious belief helps remove that pollution from the zeitgeist. It helps take damaging, incorrect beliefs out of important decision-making processes.
Uhhhhhh beans